Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Little Laos on the Prairie February Writing Contest!

Thanks to their friends at Snake Bomb Coffee, just in time for Year of the Snake they can begin a monthly series of writing contests. The winner, chosen by the editors, receives a certificate of recognition and a sample package of Snake Bomb Coffee imported from Laos!

Since it's February, They've chosen the theme of "New Ideas of Lao American Beauty."

As you see in this picture from a 1972 Lao-English dictionary, the Lao traditionally have many different words for different types of beauty, from simply 'pretty' to 'surface beauty, which does not go below the surface,' to the more surprisingly precise 'beauty characterized by an egg-shaped face having the color of cooked egg-white.'

So, the challenge is simple this month. They're looking for the best poem (under 3 pages, please), personal essay, short story, creative non-fiction, etc. (750 words or less) that comes up with interesting new ideas for Lao Americans to consider beautiful.

Whether it's thinking about the old standards or devising new ones, we want to hear about them!
Entries should be sent in the body of an e-mail, (No attachments, please). Laoglish is fine, obviously.

They get one-time publishing rights for accepted pieces after which all publishing rights revert back to you!

They are interested in multicultural, multilingual work that brings forward emerging voices, especially from perspectives often underrepresented in existing literature. Work that considers race, gender, sexuality, identity and/or disability issues is welcome. They have no style limitations this time, although shorter works preferred. Submissions should be previously unpublished.

Send your best pieces to Laoartisans@gmail.com by February 28th and they'll announce the winner in March!
Good luck!

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About Me

An award-winning Laotian American writer, I work actively to support Laotian, Hmong and Southeast Asian American artists. I am recognized by the Loft Literary Center, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts. I also served as a consulting contractor with the Minnesota History Center, the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Minnesota Humanities Commission. I am an active professional member of the Horror Writer Association and president of the Science Fiction Poetry Association.

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This activity was made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.